MeetingBenji: Tackling Cynophobia with Virtual Reality, Gamification, and Biofeedback
Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Phobias, particularly animal phobias like cynophobia (fear of dogs), disrupt the lives of those affected by, for instance, limiting outdoor activities. While virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has emerged as a potential treatment for this phobia, these efforts have been limited by high dropout rates and a lack of ability to handle stressful situations in people who suffer from cynophobia. Inspired by these challenges, we present MeetingBenji, a VRET system for cynophobia that uses (i) gamification to enhance motivation and engagement, and (ii) biofeedback to facilitate self-control and reduce physiological responses. In a study (N=10) that compared the effects of displaying dogs in 3D scenes and 360º videos using the Behavioral Approach Test (BAT) – in which participants are increasingly exposed to the source of phobia – participants reported a high level of immersion to the exposure sequence. Further, they reported feeling more anxiety with 3D content than 360º video (60%), lower heart rates in the presence of biofeedback (between 1.71% and 7.46%), and improved self-control across the three exposure levels. They appreciated our gamified elements – completing all exposure levels. This study suggests that VRET with gamification and biofeedback is an effective approach to stimulate the habituation of people with cynophobia.
Authors: Inês Alves, Augusto Esteves
Language: English
Subfield: Human-Computer Interaction
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4402722187